Definition of GALLON

gallon

Plural: gallons

Noun

  • A unit of liquid measure, equal to four quarts.
  • United States liquid unit equal to 4 quarts or 3.785 liters
  • a British imperial capacity measure (liquid or dry) equal to 4 quarts or 4.545 liters
  • A unit of volume, equivalent to eight pints
  • exactly 4.54609 liters; an imperial gallon
  • 231 cubic inches or approximately 3.785 liters for liquids (a "U.S. liquid gallon")
  • one-eighth of a U.S. bushel or approximately 4.405 liters for dry goods (a "U.S. dry gallon").
  • A large quantity (of any liquid).

Examples

  • He needed a GALLON of points to catch up, but only had small tiles.
  • The pipe burst and gallons of water flooded into the kitchen.

Origin / Etymology

From Middle English gallon, galoun, galun, from Old Northern French galun, galon (“liquid measure”) (compare Old French jalon), from Late Latin galum, galus (“measure of wine”), from Vulgar Latin *galla (“vessel”), possibly from Gaulish [Term?], ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *kel- (“goblet”). Cognate with Ancient Greek κύλιξ (kúlix, “cup”), Sanskrit कलश (kalaśa, “jar, pitcher; measure of liquid”). Related to Old French gille (“wine measure”) (from Medieval Latin gillō (“earthenware jar”)), Old French jale (“bowl”), Old French jaloie (“measure of capacity”).

Synonyms

congius, gal, Imperial gallon

Scrabble Score: 7

gallon: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Word
gallon: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
gallon: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 11

gallon: valid Words With Friends Word